Electrical connecter



Aug. 13, 1935. P. M. KOMM Er Al.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Feb.19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l t. Y. MJ...

fla/.vx "94M MM INVENTORS W? web? BY w+@ ATTORNEYS Aug. 13, 1935. P. M. KoMM ET AL I ELECTRICAL CONNECTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1931 INVENTOR s Patented Aug.` 13, `1935 N UNITED )STATES [PATENT OFFICE] ,ELECTRICAL CONNECTER l Paul M. Komm, Berwym. Franz Thomas and George J. Madill, Chicago,` and Oscar'A. Pearson, Oak Park, V`Ill., assignors to Thordarson Electric Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois `Application February 19, 1931, serialNo. 516,864 14 claim.` (o1. 173-328) y portion of alamp and socket according tothe f `This invention relates to electrical connection devices, and with particularity to connection sockets for lamps or similar articles.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a novel type of connecting socket for electrical devices such as lamps or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide alnovel method of supporting and making electrical connection with a tubular lamp such as a luminous tube or the like.y

A feature of the invention relates to a novel terminal arrangement for electric `lamps,in conjunction with `a novelytype of socket for rigidly retaining the lamp in position within the socket.

A further Vfeature of the invention relates to la novel socket connection for luminous tube lamps, or the like, wherein a lamp may be inserted and rigidly maintained inposition without turning the lamp or the associated wiring. I

i A still further feature of the invention relates f to a bi-part socket and support for electrode lamps such as luminous tube lights or `the like. `In the case of neon lamps, particularly those of considerable length, great difficulty has been encountered heretofore in providing the proper electric-alconnections and support to the terminals or ends of the lamp housing. The various types of sockets in use heretofore havevbeen in the main unsightly in appearance, and usually require special clips or spring lingers for supporting the body of the lamp@ In accordance with the present invention the lamp is supported in an insulating `housing which by its rotation insures an eicient electrical connection `to the terminals of the lamp and `at thesame time rigidly and securely holds the lamp in position. `At the same time the weight `of the sign is suspended from the covering of the conductor and not from the conductorfitself. Y y

A' stillfurther feature relates to a novel type `of socket for luminous tube lamps which is capable of both indoorandoutdoor use.`

e `Aystill further feature relates to the novel cr'- ganization and arrangement of parts which go to makeup a cheap, eiiicient, screw threaded socket having a spring connecter in the base thereof."

A still further featurerelates to a novel type of) bayonet joint socket for luminous tubes or rthe like. Other features andiadvantages not specific-ally enumerated will be apparent after a consideration of the following detail descriptions and ,the appended claims. y i

Referring to the drawings; I Figg l represents a` partial sectional` View of a sired formation. y

invention;

Fig. 2 is agsectional view of Fig. l takenalong y Fig.-3 is asectional view of a modified form of socket;`

Fig. 4 shows how separate lengths of luminOus tubing, may be connected in any suitable orde- Fig. 5 shows a modified manner .of Aanchoring the luminous tube in thesocket housing employinga bayonet joint. v I

Y Referring more particularly to Fig.` 1, thehumeral I represents a tubular lamp suoli as `a neon lamp or the like which is provided with an enlarged end portion 2 having" sealed thereinin any conventional manner, a lead-in wireon which is Ysupporteda cup-shaped or plate electrode 4. Cemented to the end of the lamp l is ai screw, threadedmember 5 of brass or other suitable metal such as is ordinarily employed in electric flight bulbs. Thelead-inv Wire 3 is electrically connected to themetal disc` 6: on `the bottom of the lamp in the usual manner. TheA Anumeral -I represents a conductor leading to one terminal of `a source fof supply potential for the lamp. If the lamp is` designed to operate von high potential, then a suitable high potential insulation 8 is provided for theconductor `I. i The end 9 of the insulated Wire is clamped between I two semi-cylindrical metal members I0 and II bymeans of screw I2 which is threaded through theinembers as shown more-clear1y in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. The clamp members I0 andII support a fiat metal member I3 to which is in Vturnsoldered or otherwise attached a coil spring I4. A contact disc or cup I5 is soldered or otherwise fastened to the outer end of the spring" I4 I and serves to contact `with the terminal* disc 6 on the base of the lamp` I. The supply wire I .passes `through a central opening in the member' I3 and thefree end of this wire` passes under a.

'struck-'up lug IIIi. onthe member I3, thus enabling the Vclamp assembly comprising the members I 0, II and I3 to be expeditiously placed on and/or removed from the free end of the insu- Y Ylated AWire and avoiding soldering or the like. It will be obvious 'of course the particularY arrangement forV connecting `the wire] to the clamp'assernbly as shown inthe drawings, that the wire 'I may, if desired, be soldered thereto or otherwiseelectrically con.- nected in any convenient manner.

Adapted to be positioned over the enlarged portion 2 of the lamp isa cylindrical housing Il that instead of using` While .the lamplis being thus of suitable insulating material such as porcelain, hard rubber, Bakelite, wood or the like. The member I'I has fastened to its interior wall a metallic threaded receptacle I8 having a thread complementary to that of the member 5. The screw threaded member I8 may be held in place by cement, rivets, or in any other convenient manner. Preferably the lower inner wall of the housing Il is shouldered as indicated by the numeral I9, to provide a seat for the member I8.

In the drawings, numeral 2B represents a'at surface wherein the socket is to be mounted, for example, this surface may representV the outer wall of a sign housing or it may represent an outlet in a wall or other surface where the lamp is to be used. The housing I'I, together with the remaining parts may be held in proper position in the member 28 by means of a ring 2I, which may be screwed or otherwise fastened to the member 2li, thus clamping the flanged edge 22 'ofthe member I'I against the member 29. It will be noted that in the particular embodiment shownin =Fig.1, the ring 2l has a concave flange 2 Ia, and also the member 20 has-a similar flange. These flanges are of the same general shape as the rounded bead portion 2Ib or the member I'I,

thus providing in effect a universal mounting and enabling the socket and tube to be positioned at any desired angle with respect to member 2G.

1n using-the combined socket and connecter shown in Figs. 1 and 2', the wire 'I is threaded through the opening in the lower wall 23 of the housing Il and the connecter including the menivbers I9 and II is then tightened around the end of the' insulation-8 by means of the screw l2.

vThe connecter having been ythus attached to the Y' end of the insulation, the wire 'I is passed under- -neath the struck-up lug I6 on the member I3,

and this lug may be pressed to clamp the wire in good electrical connection-with the member I3.

With the connecter thus attached and electricallyconnected vto the wire 'I the said Wire is vpulled until the portion I3 rests against the bottom ofthe screw threaded receptacle i8, as shown in Fig. 1 The housing I'I is then positioned over the end of the lamp I and said housingis rotated causing the member E to engage the threaded receptacle I8 and thus tightening the lamp in position. f

tightened in position the contact disc I5 engages the lamp terminal and the spring Ill is compressed thus providing an efficient electrical contact to the lamp terminal. By this arrangement therefore the lamp maybe very securely and rigidly fastened Awithin the housing I'I, thus avoiding the use of additional clips for supporting the lamp in position.' Furthermore when the lamp is thus properly positioned, the only part of the socket visible, is the housing Ill which may be made artistic in appearance and thus avoid the unsightly connecters that have usually been employed heretofore. After the lamp has been positioned in the housing the ring ZI may be secured in position tohold firmly the said housing with relation to the surface 2li. .From the foregoing description it will be seen that in making electrical connection vbetween the lamp I and the supply wire l it is not necessary to turn either the wire or the lamp, the electrical connection being effected merely by turning the housing Il to thread the screw base of the lamp into the correspondingly threaded receptacle I8 on the interior of the housing.

.While vin the embodiment of Fig. 1 the entire weight of the tube l and the receptacle is borne by the member 29, it will be understood that this is not at all necessary. The member 29 may be entirely omitted, in which case the entire weight of the tube I is borne by the wire covering 8. This latter feature is of advantage in connection with indoor hanging lights, and since the covering il may be of relatively heavy material it is not necessary to employ additional supports, and furthermore there is very little strain, if any, on the wire 1 itself. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3, wherein the luminescent tube I is entirely supported yby the members 28, 29 and 3i) from the insulating covering 8.

There is thus provided in effect, what may be termed a bi-part socket wherein the housing I1 forms one member of the socket and the member I3 with its resilient contact button forms the other member or base of the socket. While the member I3 is shown of' a particular shape, it will be understood that broadly the invention contemplates the use of any type of member being of sufficient size to prevent the wire I being completely pulled through the housing I1. Furthermore, while the housing Il is shown with a separate metal internally threaded member, it will be understood that this is not absolutely necessary, and that the member I may itself be internally threaded. Accordingly the expression internally threaded as used in the claims is intended to cover both of these features.

Referring to Fig. 3 there is shown a modified form of socket wherein the base portion 29 of the lamp I is provided with a metallic cap 25 which has attached thereto pair of curved lugs 2t, 21. If desired these lugs may be formed integrally as struck-up portions of the cap 25 which may be cemented or otherwise fastened to the base of the lamp. The supply wire 'I having a suitable insulation Il, has clamped thereto a bi-part ring 28 which carries a pair of metal strips or extensions 29, 9B. These strips are preferably of springy material such as brass, phosphor bronze or the like. At their upper ends the members 29 and 30 are provided with slots to receive the curved lugs 29 and El on the base of the lamp. Clamped to the end of the insulation 8 is a cap or bi-part metal member Si which carries a spring having a Contact disc or button 33 supported thereon. An insulating housing Sil similar to the housing Il of Fig. l is provided and a rubber ring S may be provided around the insulation 8 to limit the movement of the housing 34, thus the ring 35 may be moved until the lower end of the housing 34 is held against the member ze. the lamp I in the receptacle the insulated wire carrying the member 2&3l and the arms 29 and 30 is forced inwardly until the slots engage the hooked portions 2t, Z'I on the base of the lamp. When it is desired to remove the lamp the members 29 and 90 are again forced inwardly causing them to spread further apart and disengage the slots from the hook portions 29, 21,'whereupon members 29 and 3:11 may be turned out of the plane of said hook portions and the lamp withdrawn. The arrangement disclosed in Fig. 3 is particularly useful where the lamp I is to be suspended by means of the insulated wire itself since the weight of the lamp is borne by the hooked members 2S, 2l and the slotted members29 and 39.

Instead of employing a screw ferrule socket as shown in Fig, 1 for anchoring the tube within the housing, a bayonet type socket vmay be employed. Thus as shown in Fig. 4 the housing Il has secured on the interior thereof a cylindrical mem- In positioning regeln-178 of the connecting wires may be twisted together` of; J The luminescent tube I has iattachedfl to" the lbase .thereof by cement orany other suitable manner.' aacap `38 'which' carriesl `a `pin I 39 `adapted to engage with `the bayonet :slot 31. in thelmanner vwelhlxnown` in `.the radio art.` .It fwill be f-underistood, l of? coursersthat the f supplyawirexl f and; the insulating coating 8 are provided with a clampA `a'saiemblyin In other Lwords the l covering r 8 .serves to vsup;- .iportga clamp such` aszthe clampr I Il of Figi l, which in lturn l 'carries a'spring` pressed contact'member such as I ofl'ig. 11.1. s Thus the only` essentialV difyference fthtcf the `same manner .asjdisclosed in` Fig.

between `the embodiment IoiFig. `1,1and Fig. 14. :isthatthe threaded member I8 is replaced by the bayonet joint member 3G and the threaded ferrule is :replaced by the members 38 andSIlu` 1 a Ifthe /receptaclejandlamp is to be used in a horizontal or nearly'horizontal position the wall of the member I'I may be perforated as indicated in the drawings, to allow moisture to strain oif without reaching the lamp contacts. l

Referring to Fig. 5 there is shown schematically one manner of arranging separate tubular sections in serial formation. While the drawings show the tubular sections arranged substantially in L formation, it will be understood that this is merely illustrative and that the tubular vsections may be arranged in any other desired formation.` The numeral 40 represents a portion of 'a luminescent tube which is mounted in a socket 4I of the type shown in either Figs.

-1, 3 or 4. The receptacle 4I is positioned Within the end of a coupling member 42 by means of screws, threads, or ment. The member the said member may be attached to any suitable support, such as a wall, alcove or the like. Positioned within the opposite end of the member 42 is a similar receptacle 44 and tube 45. The opposite end of the tube 45 is mounted in a similar receptacle 46 which in turn is fastened Within a coupling member 41 Similarly succeeding sections of luminescent tubing may be connected in the same manner. In order to connect the tubes in circuit the free ends and soldered as represented in the drawings, or if desired the ends of the wires may carry right and left handed threaded members whereby the wires may be connected together merely by turning the threaded members. It will be understood that the coupling` members 42, 4l etc. are tubular in shape so as to completely enclose the `wire connections and to provide a continuous rigid sup- `port between the successive sections. The foregoing arrangement is particularly suitablefor alcove lighting, or so-called outline illumination.

While `specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the drawings, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein without `departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination a supply wire having an insulation sheath, aninternally threaded member having an opening in the base thereof and adapted to receive the corresponding threaded base of a lamp, a removable connecter member fastened to said sheath having a greater width than the opening in said base for preventing said wire pulling through said base, means for supporting the lamp and said internally threaded member totsaidclamp; said :socket A,but smaller I :4. In combination even byv frctional engage- 42 carries a lug 43 whereby having a fastening lug 48;

7,3.I In combination a supply wire having `an insulation sheath, an electrical-connecter `member g. clamped to :said sheath,

an` Ainternally threaded `socket `member secured member having an the diameter ofvsaid vwire than thewidthiof` said connecter opening larger than `fmember.

base, lasocket forl said lamp comprising a revoluvble, housing having an internally threaded `sursaid lamp passing centrallygthroughan Aopening ,in the .basehof` said' `Ih,ousirig'and means carried-,by said wirefor making electrical contact with said lamp and for preventing said Wire from completely pulling through said housing, the last mentioned means including a transverse member carried by said supply wire having a width greater than that `of said opening, a coil spring carried by said transverse member, and a contact button carried by said spring.

5. In combination a lamp having a screw- `threaded base, an internally threaded socket member having a perforated base, a current supply wire passing through said perforation, a member fastened to said wire for preventing said wire pulling through said perforation, said socket upon rotation serving to clamp said member between the base or" the lamp and the base' of the socket.

6. In combination a lampV having a threaded base, an internally vthreaded rotatable socket, a supply wire passing through the base of said socket, means attached to the end of said Wire for clamping said wire between the base of said lamp and the base of `said socket when said socket is threaded onto the base of said lamp.

'7.` In combination a supply Wire having a con- Y tact button, a coiled spring resiliently fastening said button tothe end of said Wire, an internally threaded socket through which said Wire passes,

'and a lamp having a threaded base adapted to thread into said socket, said socket being rotatable with respect to said Wire.

8. In combination acurrent supply wire having an insulation sheath, a metallic member clamped to said sheath but out of contact with said wire, a socket carriedby said member, a contact button within said socket,` and a coiled spring connection between said contact button and said wire. 1

" a transverse connecting portion to receive the end of the wire and electrically connected thereto, a coiled spring attached to said transverse ,connection portion, and a contact button carried by said spring.

10. In combination va lamp having a hook attached to the base thereof, a current supply wire for said lamp, a resilient contact member aixed to the end of said wire and bearing against the base of said lam a spring finger clamped to said wire and having a slit to engage said hook. l

said member:` having a widthigreater than thediameter of said wire, yand a lamp having: .a threaded 111.7In combination a lamp having a contact surface attached to the base thereof, a pair of hook members attached to the lamp base, a current supply wire for said lamp, a pair of slotted ngers clamped to said Wire, the slots of said fingers engaging said hooks to provide a support for said lamp.

v opening in one end adapted to receive the sheathed Wire, a cylindrical member on the interior of said housing, said member having a bayonet slot in one wall thereof, a lamp having a cap` on the base thereof, a pin on saidy cap a'dapted to engage said bayonetslot to hold said lamp in position Within said housing, and a clamp -ber and lamp said clamp adapted to be clamped to said sheath and `attached to said member for supporting said membeing` larger than. the opening in said housing to prevent the Wire pulling through said housing, by said clamp, and a contact button carried by said spring, said wire being connectedto said spring.

14. In combination an electric supply Wire having an insulating covering, a member clamped to said covering, a coil spring attached to said member, a contact button attached to said spring, and a bayonet joint receptacle supported by'said member adjacent to and in line AWith said contact button, said Wire being connected to said spring.

' PAUL M. KOMM. FRANZ THOMAS. GEORGE J. MADILL.

a coil spring carried Y.

OSCAR A. PEARsQN. 2o 

